3 weeks ago
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YIAGA Africa, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has urged the strengthening of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to minimise the power of authorities governments successful their operations.
Mr Samson Itodo, Executive Director, of the CSO, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) connected Saturday successful Abuja that the determination would lend to credible section authorities elections.
Itodo said this would besides guarantee that the dominance of ruling parties astatine the authorities level during section authorities elections was drastically reduced.
“This volition fortify SIECs’ independency and liberate them from the stranglehold of governors and safeguard their operational autonomy.
“Its fiscal autonomy should beryllium guaranteed by backing it connected first-line charge.
“Financing SIECs should beryllium from the state’s Consolidated Revenue. By incorporating this proviso the fiscal independency of SIECs volition beryllium safeguarded. It volition guarantee that their functions are escaped from undue governmental influence.
“Alternatively, Local Government may, done legislation, lend 5 per cent of their allocation to SIECs,” Itodo said.
Itodo besides said the mode of appointments into SIECs should beryllium reviewed.
He said the powerfulness to name the president and members of SIECs should beryllium divested from the governors.
READ ALSO: Yiaga Africa kicks against scrapping of SIECs
He recommended that: “Where a vacancy arises successful the SIEC, the authorities assembly should acceptable up an autarkic committee to grip nominations. The committee issues a wide publicised telephone for nominations.
“Interview panel: shortlisted candidates acquisition an interrogation to measure competence, character, and suitability for assignment to the SIEC.
“The authorities assembly shall see the interrogation sheet study and nationalist petitions.
“A two-thirds bulk solution by the authorities assembly is required to urge a campaigner to the politician for appointment.”
He further called for the amendment of the Constitution to present circumstantial timelines for appointing members SIEC members.
“This volition forestall unwarranted delays successful constituting the commission’s board, ensuring that SIECs tin relation efficaciously and without interruption.
“Also the tenure of section authorities councils should beryllium prescribed successful the Constitution.
“This volition warrant the behaviour of regular elections and enactment an extremity to the loophole exploited to warrant the assignment of caretaker committees oregon dissolution of section authorities councils,” Itodo said.
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